Device control method, data transfer apparatus and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A data transfer apparatus for simplifying a module structure for controlling a connected data recording apparatus and improving the processing efficiency. A control code issued by a common application module having a main purpose of check-out/check-in is made a control code corresponding to a device connected by a conversion module and transmitted via a device driver. Moreover, for example, a control code issued by a local application module having a main purpose of controlling processing depending on a device connected shares the aforementioned device driver. For example, the local application module issues a control code in a state matched with a control code format converted by the conversion module. Alternatively, the local application module issues a local control code by indicating issuance of a local control code of a format different from the control code format converted by the conversion module.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus control method, adata transfer apparatus and a recording medium that are suitable for asystem in which the data transfer apparatus is connected to adata-recording apparatus and contents data such as music are transferredfrom the data transfer apparatus to the data-recording apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] For example, there is an application in which an HDD (hard-discdrive) employed in a personal computer is used as a primary recordingmedium for storing contents data such as music and the contents data aretransferred to another recording medium referred to as a secondaryrecording medium and recorded on the secondary recording medium to bereproduced and enjoyed later. It is to be noted that the contents dataare data mainly to be distributed, transferred and used. Examples of thecontents data are music data, video data, game data and computersoftware.

[0003] In this case, the HDD employed in the personal computer is usedfor storing contents data such as pieces of music, which are reproducedfrom a package medium such as a CD-DA (Compact Disc Digital Audio) or aDVD (Digital Versatile Disc). As an alternative, the contents data aredownloaded to the personal computer from an external music server by wayof a communication network, to which the personal computer is connected.Then, the user connects a recording apparatus employing the secondaryrecording medium to the personal computer to copy or move contents datastored in the HDD to the secondary recording medium. Finally, the userutilizes a reproduction apparatus for the secondary recording medium toreproduce the copied contents data such as music from the recordingapparatus (secondary recording medium).

[0004] Examples of the secondary recording medium include a memory cardusing a semiconductor memory such a flash memory, a mini disc used as amagneto-optical disc, a CDR (CD Recordable), a CD-RW (CD Rewritable) aDVD-RAM, a DVD-R and a DVD-RW.

[0005] As the recording apparatus and the reproduction apparatus, whichare used for the secondary recording medium, respectively, a recorderand a player have been becoming popular for a wide range ofapplications. There are a variety of recorders and players such asstationary and portable recording/reproduction apparatus. The user isthus allowed to record and reproduce contents data by using arecording/reproduction apparatus that the user likes or is suitable foran apparatus already owned by the user.

[0006] It is to be noted that, when considering such usage of contentsdata, protection of a copyright of the contents data must be taken intoaccount. Assume for example that the user makes use of a service ofdistributing contents data to users, purchases a package medium used forrecording contents data or obtains contents data in another way, andrecords the contents data on to the HDD. If the user is allowed to copythe contents data from the HDD to a secondary recording medium withoutany restrictions, there will be resulted in a situation in which thecopyright of the contents data is not protected properly. In order tosolve this problem, there have been proposed a variety of technologiesand a variety of data-processing rules for protection of a copyright ofcontents data used in handling of the contents data as digital data. Oneof the rules is called an SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative).

[0007] A data path of contents data prescribed by the SDMI standard willbe described later. Network contents and disc contents are transferredto a secondary recording medium and recorded onto the secondaryrecording medium appropriately by considering protection of copyrightsof the contents data and interests of general users or rights to copythe contents data for private use. Network contents are contents datadistributed from an external server to a personal computer by way of anetwork and stored in the personal computer's HDD serving as a primaryrecording medium. On the other hand, disc contents are contents datareproduced from the personal computer's disc drive unit such as a CD-ROMdrive, or contents data reproduced from a package medium such as a CD-DAor a DVD mounted on a disc drive unit connected to such a personalcomputer.

[0008] By the way, in a process to transfer contents data from a primaryrecording medium such as an HDD to a secondary recording medium such asa mini disc or a memory card and record the contents data onto thesecondary recording medium, efforts are made to consider both protectionof a copyright of the contents data and a right to copy the contentsdata for private use. That is to say, contents data are transferred to asecondary recording medium conforming to the SDMI standard describedabove as follows.

[0009] A memory card, which uses a semiconductor memory such as a flashmemory and conforms to the SDMI standard, can be assumed to be anexample of a secondary recording medium conforming to the SDMI standard.In such a secondary recording medium, contents are recorded in anencrypted state. SDMI-conforming contents are encrypted before beingrecorded onto a primary recording medium such as an HDD. Thus,SDMI-conforming contents are copied to a secondary recording medium inan encrypted state as it is.

[0010] It is needless to say that a reproduction apparatus for thesecondary recording medium has a decryption function. Thus, thereproduction apparatus is capable of reproducing the contents data fromthe secondary recording medium, which have been copied to the secondaryrecording medium in an encrypted state.

[0011] In addition, the format of a secondary recording mediumconforming to the SDMI standard includes an area for recording contentsIDs each serving as an identifier for contents data recorded on thesecondary recording medium.

[0012] Contents ID is generated by an apparatus for a primary recordingmedium for each contents data recorded on the HDD used as the primaryrecording medium and stored in the primary recording medium along withthe contents data. When the contents data are copied to a secondaryrecording medium, the contents ID for the contents data are alsorecorded onto the secondary recording medium as well.

[0013] Contents IDs are used in management of contents rights in theprimary recording medium and the secondary recording medium. Contentsright in the primary recording medium is a right to transfer (or copy)contents data to the secondary recording medium. On the other hand,contents right in the secondary recording medium is a right to reproducecopied contents data.

[0014] It is to be noted that, in the following description, a transferof contents data from a primary recording medium to a secondaryrecording medium, that is, a transfer of a right, is referred to as acheck-out. On the other hand, a return of contents data from a secondaryrecording medium to a primary recording medium is referred to as acheck-in. As will be described later, a check-in is actually only areturn of a right.

[0015] The SDMI standard sets usage rules for check-outs and check-ins.For example, only up to three check-outs from a primary recording mediumto a secondary recording medium can be carried out on contents data.That is to say, the transfer of a right described above can be performedup to three times.

[0016] When a check-out is carried out on contents data, the right ofthe contents data is transferred from a primary recording medium to asecondary recording medium. That is to say, the transfer of a right ofthe contents data can be carried out only two more times. On the otherhand, the secondary recording medium obtains a right to reproduce thecontents data.

[0017] When a check-in is carried out on contents data from a secondaryrecording medium to a primary recording medium, on the other hand, theright of the contents data is returned from the secondary recordingmedium to the primary recording medium. That is to say, a right toreproduce the contents data from the secondary recording medium is lostwhile the number of times the contents data can be transferred from theprimary recording medium to a secondary recording medium is incrementedby 1.

[0018] Such check-outs and check-ins are managed in contents data unitsby assigning contents ID to each of contents data.

[0019] In a check-out of contents data from a primary recording mediumto a secondary recording medium, the contents data and the contents IDof the contents data are recorded onto the secondary recording medium inorder to allow the contents data to be reproduced from the secondaryrecording medium, that is, in order to give the secondary recordingmedium a right to reproduce the contents data. In the primary recordingmedium, on the other hand, the check-out is regarded as one transfer ofcontents ID, and the number of transfers allowable by the usage rule isdecremented by 1.

[0020] In a check-in, contents data are not actually returned to theprimary recording medium. Instead, the contents data are deleted fromthe secondary recording medium and, in the primary recording medium, thecheck-in is regarded as a return of the contents ID of the contents datafrom the secondary recording medium. Thus, the number of transfersallowable by the usage rule is incremented by 1. In the secondaryrecording medium, a right to reproduce the contents data from thesecondary recording medium is lost.

[0021] As described above, contents data in an encrypted state is copiedto a secondary recording medium and recorded onto the secondaryrecording medium, which conforms to the SDMI standard, as it is. Inaddition, a right of contents is managed in every check-in and everycheck-out. Thus, a copyright can be protected by avoidance of copyoperations without restrictions. At the same time, the user's right tocopy contents data for private use is assured.

[0022] It is to be noted that contents data are downloaded fromtypically an external server to an HDD used as a primary recordingmedium in a state of being encrypted by using a contents key CK.

[0023] In the description of this specification, contents data recordedin an HDD used as a primary recording medium is assumed to be A3Dcontents data encrypted by using a contents key CK. A3D contents dataare contents data compressed by adoption of an ATRAC3 technique. It isneedless to say, however, that contents data may be compressed by usinga compression method other than the ATRAC3 technique.

[0024] In addition, in the description of this specification, symbol E(x, y) denotes data y encrypted by adoption of a key x. On the otherhand, symbol D {x, E (x, y)} denotes data obtained as a result ofdecrypting data E (x, y) by adoption of the key x.

[0025] Thus, symbol E (CK, A3D) denotes data obtained as a result ofencrypting contents data A3D by adoption of a contents key CK. Asdescribed above, the A3D contents data are contents data compressed byadoption of the ATRAC3 compression technique. On the other hand, symbolD {CK, E (CK, A3D)} denotes data obtained as a result of decrypting dataE (CK, A3D) by adoption of the contents key CK.

[0026] In addition, an HDD serving as a primary recording medium is usedfor storing also E (KR, CK) along with the encrypted contents data E(CK, A3D). Symbol E (KR, CK) denotes the contents key CK encrypted byadoption of a root key KR. Thus, the encrypted contents key E (KR, CK)is downloaded from an external server to the HDD along with theencrypted contents data E (CK, A3D).

[0027] In this case, when the encrypted contents data E (CK, A3D) istransferred from the HDD serving as a primary recording medium to asecondary recording medium, the encrypted contents key E (KR, CK) needsto be also transmitted to the secondary recording medium as well.

[0028] The apparatus for the secondary recording medium has the root keyKR and is thus capable of decrypting the encrypted contents key E (KR,CK) by using the root key KR to produce the contents key CK, which isthen used to decrypt the encrypted contents data.

[0029] However, the root key KR may be varied in accordance with thewill of the copyright owner or in accordance with a variety of changesin condition. For example, the set root key KR may vary from contentsdata to contents data. A function to limit contents distributiondestinations can be executed by carrying out a process of the root keyKR. However, details of this process are not explained in thisspecification.

[0030] In order to carry out a process of the root key KR, data calledan EKB (Enabling Key Block) is also distributed. For example, anordinary terminal apparatus to receive contents data adopts a techniqueallowing a root key to be verified by using a received EKB. That is tosay, an EKB is also distributed by a server along with theaforementioned encrypted contents data and the aforementioned encryptedcontents key to an apparatus and stored onto the HDD employed in theapparatus.

[0031] In this case, consider a case in which a mini disc or amagneto-optical disc, which has been becoming popular in a wide range ofapplications, is used as a secondary recording medium.

[0032] To be more specific, as an example, let a mini-disc-recordingapparatus conform to the SDMI standard. The apparatus records encryptedcontents data E (CK, A3D) transferred from a primary recording medium ina checkout onto a mini disc thereof in an encrypted state as it is.

[0033] In a reproduction process, the mini-disc-reproduction apparatusconforming to the SDMI standard generates D {CK, E (CK, A3D)}, which isthe contents data A3D itself. Then, the mini-disc-reproduction apparatuscarries out a predetermined decoding process on the contents data A3D toreproduce and output typically music of the contents data.

[0034] On the other hand, an ordinary mini-disc system, which has beenbecoming popular, does not record encrypted contents onto a mini discthereof. It is needless to say that such a mini-disc-reproductionapparatus does not have a function to decrypt encrypted contents dataeither.

[0035] Thus, even if contents data can be recorded on a mini disc by amini-disc-recording apparatus conforming to the SDMI standard, thecontents data recorded on a mini disc cannot be reproduced by a largenumber of mini-disc players not conforming to the SDMI standard. This isbecause there is no reproduction compatibility between themini-disc-recording apparatus conforming to the SDMI standard and themini-disc players not conforming to the SDMI standard.

[0036] This reproduction incompatibility restricts proper use of SDMIcontents purchased by the general user and, hence, substantially reducesthe value of a service to provide the SDMI contents to the general userand the degree of user satisfaction.

[0037] In order to solve the problem described above, when SDMI contentsare recorded onto a secondary recording medium of a mini-disc-recordingapparatus not conforming to the SDMI standard in a copy operation, thereis conceived a technique wherein the contents data are decrypted beforebeing transferred to the apparatus and finally recorded onto a mini discused as the secondary recording medium in an unencrypted state as it is.

[0038] If the above technique to copy contents data is adopted, however,the contents data can be copied with ease. Thus, there is inevitablyroom for illegally copying contents data. As a result, the originalobject of the SDMI standard to protect copyrights cannot be achieved.

[0039] Thus, in order to solve the problems described above, theapplicant for a patent of the present invention has proposed thefollowing transfer technique as a means for transferring contents data.

[0040] In a process to transfer contents data, theprimary-recording-medium-side apparatus serving as a data transferapparatus authenticates the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatusserving as a data-recording apparatus, and a transfer of the contentsdata is permitted on condition that the result of the authentication isOK and the contents provider such as the copyright owner approves thetransfer. The contents data are then transferred through a transmissionline in an encrypted state but decrypted before being recorded on asecondary recording medium of the data-recording apparatus. In addition,in accordance with this proposed technique, contents rights are managedin every check-out and every check-in.

[0041] Thus, an operation to copy and record contents data in anunencrypted state is permitted and the function to protect a copyrightof the contents data is not lost.

[0042] In actuality, a transfer of contents from an HDD used as aprimary recording medium in a personal computer serving as the datatransfer apparatus to a mini disc used as a secondary recording mediumin a mini-disc recorder serving as a data-recording apparatus byadoption of the technique described above is beneficial to both thecontents provider and the user.

[0043] By the way, in a data transfer system adopting the techniquedescribed above, there is a variety of recording media such as a memorycard and a mini disc, which can be utilized by the user as a secondaryrecording medium at a destination of a check-out of contents data. Insuch a data transfer system, a data-recording apparatus or a mini-discrecorder is connected arbitrarily to the personal computer, allowing acheckout and a check-in to be carried out.

[0044] In this case, it is necessary to provide the personal computerserving as the data transfer apparatus with a function for controllingcheck-outs and check-ins of contents data in conjunction with a varietyof data-recording apparatus such as a memory-card-recording apparatus ora mini-disc recorder and controlling processes of contents data on thesecondary recording medium of the data-recording apparatus.

[0045] In other words, the personal computer serving as the datatransfer apparatus is required to have application software capable oftransmitting commands or control codes provided for each of varioussecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus to thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus.

[0046] In the present state of the art, however, thememory-card-recording apparatus and the mini-disc recorders do not sharestandardized formats such as control-code forms and command-framestructures for control commands issued by the application software.

[0047] Because of the reason described above, in the case of anapplication intended mainly for check-outs and check-ins of contentsdata, it is necessary to provide independent application for eachsecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus connected to the personalcomputer.

[0048] In addition, since a variety of secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus exists, it is necessary to also provide a separately localapplication intended mainly for controlling various kinds of processingdependent on the types of the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus.Examples of the processing dependent on the types of thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus are processes to reproduce,record and edit contents data.

[0049] In this case, there exist independent control-code forms andindependent command-frame structures for control commands issued by theapplication issued by the application for the purpose of mainly carryingout check-outs and check-ins and control commands issued by the localapplication for the purpose of mainly controlling the processingdependent on the types of the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus.

[0050] In consequence, it is necessary to carry out a complicatedprocess to switch the application from one to another and a devicedriver from one to another in dependent on the processing.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0051] It is thus an object of the present invention addressing theproblems described above to simplify a software structure and to makeprocessing efficient by providing a module structure for controlexecuted by a data transfer apparatus on a data-recording apparatusconnected to the data transfer apparatus.

[0052] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an apparatus control method adopted by a data transferapparatus to control a data-recording apparatus connected to the datatransfer apparatus, wherein: the data transfer apparatus includes aprimary recording medium in which contents data have been stored; thedata-recording apparatus is capable of recording contents data onto asecondary recording medium; and the contents data stored on the primaryrecording medium can be transferred to the secondary recording medium byconnecting the data-recording apparatus to the data transfer apparatus,

[0053] wherein a first control procedure or a second control procedureis selectively executed in accordance with a control condition,

[0054] the first control procedure including the steps of:

[0055] using a common application module to issue a control codeaccording to a common control condition independently of a type of thesecondary recording medium;

[0056] using a transformation module to transform the control code inaccordance with the data-recording apparatus connected to the datatransfer apparatus; and

[0057] transmitting the transformed control code to the data-recordingapparatus connected to the data transfer apparatus by way of a devicedriver;

[0058] the second control procedure including the steps of:

[0059] using a local application module to issue a control code inaccordance with a control condition not prepared in the commonapplication module; and

[0060] transmitting the issued control code to the data-recordingapparatus connected to the data transfer apparatus by way of the devicedriver.

[0061] Preferably, in the second control procedure, the localapplication module issues the control code having a format adjusted tothat of the control code transformed by the transformation module.

[0062] Preferably, in the second control procedure, the localapplication module presents that a local control code having a formatdifferent from that of the control code transformed by thetransformation module is to be issued and issues the local control code.

[0063] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a data transfer apparatus comprising:

[0064] primary-recording-medium-driving means for recording data onto aprimary recording medium and reproducing data from the primary recordingmedium;

[0065] communication means for carrying out operations to exchangevarious kinds of data with an external data-recording apparatus forrecording data onto a secondary recording medium and specially carryingout an operation to transfer contents data recorded on the primaryrecording medium; and

[0066] connected-apparatus control means for transmitting a control codeto a variety of data-recording apparatus connectable to the datatransfer apparatus in a state of being capable of communicating with thedata transfer apparatus through the communication means, and forcontrolling the data-recording apparatus connected to the data transferapparatus,

[0067] wherein the connected-apparatus control means includes:

[0068] a common application module for issuing a control code accordingto a common control condition independently of a type of the secondaryrecording medium;

[0069] a transformation module for transforming the control code issuedby the common application module in accordance with the data-recordingapparatus connected to the data transfer apparatus;

[0070] a local application module for issuing a control code inaccordance with a control condition not prepared in the commonapplication module; and

[0071] a device driver for transmitting the transformed control codetransformed by the transformation module and the issued control codeissued by the local application module to the data-recording apparatusconnected to the data transfer apparatus.

[0072] Preferably, the local application module issues the control codehaving a format adjusted to that of the control code transformed by thetransformation module.

[0073] Preferably, the local application module presents that a localcontrol code having a format different from that of the control codetransformed by the transformation module is to be issued and issues thelocal control code.

[0074] In accordance with further another aspect of the presentinvention, there is provided a recording medium for a recording programmodule to be executed by a data transfer apparatus including a primaryrecording medium in which contents data have been stored, in order tocontrol a data-recording apparatus which is connected to the datatransfer apparatus and which is used for recording contents data onto asecondary recording medium in a state allowing contents data recorded onthe primary recording medium to be transferred to the secondaryrecording medium by connecting the data-recording apparatus to the datatransfer apparatus, the program module comprising:

[0075] a common application module for issuing a control code accordingto a common control condition independently of a type of the secondaryrecording medium;

[0076] a transformation module for transforming the control code issuedby the common application module in accordance with the data-recordingapparatus connected to the data transfer apparatus;

[0077] a local application module for issuing a control code inaccordance with a control condition not prepared in the commonapplication module; and

[0078] a device driver for transmitting the transformed control codetransformed by the transformation module and the issued control codeissued by the local application module to the data-recording apparatusconnected to the data transfer apparatus.

[0079] Preferably, the local application module issues the control codehaving a format adjusted to that of the control code transformed by thetransformation module.

[0080] Preferably, the local application module presents that a localcontrol code having a format different from that of the control codetransformed by the transformation module is to be issued and issues thelocal control code.

[0081] In accordance with the present invention, a control code issuedby the common application module for the purpose of mainly carrying outtypically check-outs and check-ins is transformed by the transformationmodule into a control code suitable for a data-recording apparatusconnected to the data transfer apparatus and transmitted to thedata-recording apparatus by way of the device driver.

[0082] On the other hand, a control code issued by the local applicationmodule for the purpose of mainly controlling processing dependent on thedata-recording apparatus is also transmitted to the data-recordingapparatus by way of the same device driver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0083]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a systemimplemented by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0084]FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing typical data paths ofSDMI contents according to the embodiment;

[0085]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a primary-recording-medium-sideapparatus provided by the embodiment;

[0086]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a secondaryrecording-medium-sideapparatus provided by the embodiment;

[0087]FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure ofapplication modules provided by the embodiment;

[0088]FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a transformed commandframe issued by a plug-in module provided by the embodiment;

[0089]FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a transformed commandframe issued by a local application provided by the embodiment;

[0090]FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams showing the embodiment'ssend control command and receive response command respectively; and

[0091]FIGS. 9A and 9B are explanatory diagrams showing the embodiment'ssend vendor command and receive vendor command respectively.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0092] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is explained inchapters arranged in the following order:

[0093] 1: System Configuration

[0094] 2: Data Paths of SDMI contents

[0095] 3: Typical Configuration of Data Transfer Apparatus(Primary-Recording-Medium-Side Apparatus or PC)

[0096] 4: Typical Configuration of Data-Recording Apparatus(Secondary-Recording-Medium-Side Apparatus or Recording/ReproductionApparatus)

[0097] 5: Structure of Application Modules

[0098] 1: System Configuration

[0099] The following description explains the configuration of a systemimplemented by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0100]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a typical system configuration. Aprimary-recording-medium-side apparatus 1 corresponds to a data transferapparatus provided by the present invention. On the other hand,secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A and 20B each correspond tothe data-recording apparatus connected to the data transfer apparatusprovided by the present invention. The primary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 1 and the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20Bform a data transfer system.

[0101] The primary-recording-medium-side apparatus 1 is implemented bytypically a personal computer. For the sake of convenience, in thefollowing explanation, by a personal computer, theprimary-recording-medium-side apparatus 1 is meant. However, theprimary-recording-medium-side apparatus 1 is not necessarily a personalcomputer.

[0102] In order to carry out operations of the data transfer apparatusprovided by the present invention, the personal computer functioning asthe primary-recording-medium-side apparatus 1 executes software forimplementing transfers and accumulation of SDMI contents data, which areinitiated in the personal computer 1. In addition, a group ofapplication modules is activated by the personal computer to carry outfunctions of an apparatus for controlling operations of thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A and 20B connected to thepersonal computer. The controlled operations include check-outs andcheck-ins in conjunction with the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20A and 20B as well as processing to reproduce contents datafrom the secondary recording medium and recording contents data onto thesecondary recording medium and edit contents data stored on thesecondary recording medium.

[0103] An HDD 5 embedded in or externally added to the personal computer1 serves as the primary recording medium (and a primary-recording-mediumdrive means). It is to be noted that, while the HDD 5 is used as theprimary recording medium in the explanation of the embodiment, arecording medium functioning as the primary recording medium is notnecessarily an HDD. The primary recording medium can be one of a varietyof conceivable recording media such as an optical disc, amagneto-optical disc, a semiconductor memory embedded in theprimary-recording-medium-side apparatus 1 and a portable semiconductormemory such as a memory card.

[0104] The primary-recording-medium-side apparatus 1 is capable ofcommunicating with a contents server 91 through a communication network110. Contents data such as music can thus be downloaded from thecontents server 91 to the primary-recording-medium-side apparatus 1. Itis needless to say that a plurality of contents servers 91 may beconnected to the network 110. The user of the personal computer 1 canreceive a service to download various kinds of data from any arbitraryone of the contents servers 91.

[0105] Contents data downloaded from the contents server 91 to thepersonal computer 1 can be contents data conforming to the SDMI standardor contents data not conforming to the SDMI standard.

[0106] A transmission line forming the network 110 is a wire or radiopublic communication line. As an alternative, a transmission lineforming the network 110 can be a dedicated line connecting the personalcomputer 1 to the contents server 91. To put it concretely, the network110 can be the Internet, a satellite communication network, an opticalfiber network or any other communication line.

[0107] The HDD 5 of the personal computer 1 can be an embedded orexternally connected disc drive unit for driving a package medium 90such as a CD-DA or a DVD, from which contents data such as music arereproduced. In the following description, the package medium 90 is alsoreferred to as a disc 90 or a removable recording medium 90.

[0108] The personal computer 1 is connected to asecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20B, to which contentsdata stored in the HDD 5 can be transferred in a check-out. Thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20B is a recordingapparatus or a recording/reproduction apparatus for recording data ontoa secondary recording medium. Thus, contents data received from thepersonal computer 1 can be recorded onto the secondary recording mediumin a copy operation.

[0109] There are a variety of conceivable examples of thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20B. In the followingdescription, however, the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20Bis a recording apparatus conforming to the SDMI standard.

[0110] In the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B conformingto the SDMI standard, the secondary recording medium is assumed to be amemory card conforming to the SDMI standard. Such a memory card employsa semiconductor memory such as a flash memory. Thus, thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B is arecording/reproduction apparatus or a memory-card-drive for recordingand reproducing data onto and from a memory card conforming to the SDMIstandard. In this case, SDMI contents are recorded on the secondaryrecording medium in an encrypted state.

[0111] There is created an information management format including acontents ID stored in the secondary recording medium conforming to theSDMI standard. The contents ID is used as an identifier for identifyingSDMI contents. When contents data are stored in the HDD 5 of thepersonal computer 1, a contents ID is generated by an application forthe contents data and stored in the HDD 5 along with the contents data.In addition, check-outs and check-ins are managed by using contents IDs.It is assumed that, when contents data are recorded onto the secondaryrecording medium conforming to the SDMI standard, the contents ID of thecontents data can also be recorded onto the secondary recording mediumalong with the contents data.

[0112] On the other hand, the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus20A is a data-recording apparatus not conforming to the SDMI standard.The secondary recording medium of the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20A is used for storing SDMI contents, which requireprotection of its copyright, in an unencrypted state. An example of thissecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A is a mini disc. Thus, anexample of the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A is amini-disc recording/reproduction apparatus or a mini-disc recorder.

[0113] In this case, in order not to lose a function to protect acopyright even if SDMI contents are recorded in an unencrypted state,successful authentication to be described later is taken as one ofconditions for an operation to copy the SDMI contents.

[0114] It is to be noted that a medium, which data are recorded onto andreproduced from by the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A, isnot limited to a mini disc. Other secondary recording media of thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A conceivably include amemory card employing a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, amini disc functioning as a magneto-optical disc, a CD-R (CD Recordable),a CD-RW (CD Rewritable), a DVD-RAM, a DVD-R and a DVD-RW. Thus, thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A can be any recordingapparatus as long as the recording apparatus is capable of recordingdata onto any one of these recording media.

[0115] The personal computer 1 is connected to thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20B by a lineconforming to a transmission standard such as the USB (Universal SerialBus) or IEEE-1394 standard. It is needless to say that another kind oftransmission line can also be used as long as the other transmissionline is capable of transmitting contents data or the like. Examples ofthe other transmission line are a wire transmission line and a radiotransmission line.

[0116] It is to be noted that, in the following description, if it isnecessary to distinguish the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus20A and 20B from each other, the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20A is referred to as a mini-disc recorder 20A while thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B is referred to as amemory-card drive 20B in some cases.

[0117] 2: Data Paths of SDMI Contents

[0118] Assume for example a data transfer system like one shown inFIG. 1. In this case, data paths prescribed by the SDMI standard areshown in FIG. 2.

[0119] It is to be noted that music contents go through the data path inprocessing carried out by the personal computer 1, which is providedwith typically the HDD 5 as the primary recording medium, to store themusic contents onto the HDD 5 or to transfer the contents to an externalapparatus such as the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or20B. In other words, the data paths are implemented by software executedby the personal computer 1 to carry out processing to store the musiccontents onto the HDD 5 or to transfer the contents to the externalapparatus.

[0120] Procedures and processing to store music contents onto the HDD 5or to transfer the contents to an external apparatus through the datapaths shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by reference notations DP1 to DP9. Inthe following description, reference notations DP1 to DP9 are used torefer to their respective procedures.

[0121] In a procedure DP1, contents data distributed by the externalcontents server 91 by way of the network 110 shown in FIG. 1 areexamined to form a judgment as to whether or not the data are contentsrequiring protection of the copyright in conformity with the SDMIstandard.

[0122] Distributed network contents can be contents conforming to theSDMI standard or contents having nothing to do with the SDMI standard.Contents conforming to the SDMI standard and contents having nothing todo with the SDMI standard are referred to as SDMI-conforming contentsand non-SDMI contents respectively.

[0123] SDMI-conforming contents have been encrypted by using a contentskey CK in a key encryption process such as a DES process. Typically, thepre-encryption data of SDMI-conforming contents are encoded data A3Dcompressed by using a compression technique such as ATRAC3. In thiscase, the encrypted SDMI-conforming contents are expressed by referencenotation E (CK, A3D).

[0124] If the distributed network contents are SDMI-conforming contents,the data path continues from the procedure DP1 to a procedure DP2, inwhich the network contents are stored as SDMI contents in the HDD 5serving as the primary recording medium.

[0125] In this case, the contents data are written into the HDD 5 in thedistributed state E (CK, A3D) as it is. As an alternative, the contentsdata are once decrypted before being encrypted again by using anothercontents key CK′ to generate encrypted data E (CK′, A3D) to be storedonto the HDD 5. That is to say, the contents key is changed from CK toCK′.

[0126] If the distributed network contents are non-SDMI contents, on theother hand, the data path continues from the procedure DP1 to aprocedure DP3, in which a watermark-check process is carried out. Thewatermark-check process is a screening process based on an electronicwatermark.

[0127] Also in the procedure DP3, a watermark-check process is carriedout on disc contents. Disc contents are contents data read out from apackage medium mounted on a drive embedded in the personal computer 1 ormounted on a disc drive unit connected to the personal computer 1. Anexample of the embedded drive is a CD-ROM drive. Examples of the packagemedium include a CD-DA and a DVD.

[0128] That is to say, for disc contents, which are contents data notconforming to the SDMI standard, a watermark-check process is carriedout.

[0129] If the disc contents does not pass the watermark-check process,the data path continues from the procedure DP3 to a procedure DP5 inwhich the disc contents are determined to be contents data that cannotbe copied in the data paths. A variety of conceivable concrete handlingscan be implemented through the design of software. For example, suchdisc contents are stored into the HDD 5 but treated like contents datathat cannot be transferred for the purpose of copying or moving the datato another medium. As an alternative conceivable handling, such disccontents are not stored in the HDD 5 in the contents processingconforming to the SDMI standard.

[0130] If the contents data pass the watermark-check process, that is,if an electronic watermark exists and a copy control bit is confirmed toindicate that a copy operation is permitted, on the other hand, thecontents data are determined to be contents data that can be copiedlegally. In this case, the data path continues to a procedure DP4 toform a judgment as to whether or not the contents data are to be handledin conformity with the SDMI standard. Whether or not contents data areto be handled as data conforming to the SDMI standard is dependent onthe software design, a user setting or the like.

[0131] If the contents data are not to be handled in conformity with theSDMI standard, the data path continues to a procedure DP6 in which thecontents data are treated as non-SDMI contents and excluded from thecontents-data path conforming to the SDMI standard. For example, atransfer of the contents data to a recording apparatus not conforming tothe SDMI standard is enabled.

[0132] If the contents data are to be handled in conformity with theSDMI standard, on the other hand, the data path continues from theprocedure DP4 to the procedure DP2 in which the contents data isencrypted and stored into the HDD 5 as SDMI contents. To be morespecific, the contents data are stored into the HDD 5 typically in an E(CK, A3D) or E (CK′, A3D) state.

[0133] In accordance with the data paths described above, SDMI networkcontents or SDMI disc contents are stored into the HDD 5, which is usedas a primary recording medium. SDMI network contents are contents, whichare received from the network 110 and to be handled in conformity withthe SDMI standard. On the other hand, SDMI disc contents are contents,which are read out from a disc such as a CD-DA or another medium and tobe handled in conformity with the SDMI standard.

[0134] In addition, for SDMI contents, a contents ID unique to the SDMIcontents is generated and stored into the HDD 5 along with the SDMIcontents. The contents ID is used in management of usage rules, which isexecuted for each SDMI contents as will be described later.

[0135] In accordance with a predetermined rule, SDMI contents stored inthe HDD 5 is transferred to the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20B conforming to the SDMI standard so that the contents canbe copied to a secondary recording medium also conforming to the SDMIstandard. As described above, SDMI contents can be SDMI network contentsor SDMI disc contents. In addition, in the case of this embodiment,besides the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B conforming tothe SDMI standard, the SDMI contents stored in the HDD 5 can also betransferred to the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A under apredetermined condition. Examples of the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20A and 20B are a mini-disc recorder and a memory-card driverespectively.

[0136] First of all, assume that the personal computer 1 employing theHDD 5 is connected to the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20Bconforming to the SDMI standard. In this case, SDMI contents stored inthe HDD 5 is transferred to the secondary-recording-mediumside apparatus20B as follows.

[0137] In the case of SDMI disc contents, a usage rule for transferringthe contents is determined in advance. In a procedure DP8, the transferof the SDMI disc contents according to the usage rule to thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B conforming to the SDMIstandard for the purpose of copying the contents to thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B is recognized.

[0138] It is to be noted that these data paths are paths of a check-outor an operation to transfer contents from the HDD 5 serving as a primaryrecording medium to a secondary recording medium such as a memory cardmounted on the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B or thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A to copy the contents to bereproduced by the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B or 20A.An operation opposite to a check-out is a check-in, which is anoperation to transfer or move contents from the secondary recordingmedium back to the primary recording medium. It is worth noting that, insuch a move operation to transfer contents from the secondary recordingmedium back to the primary recording medium, the contents data areerased from the secondary recording medium.

[0139] As a usage rule of a transfer of SDMI disc contents, an upperlimit is imposed on the number of allowable check-outs. For example, upto three check-outs are permitted for a piece of contents data. Thus,contents can be copied to up to three secondary recording mediaconforming to the SDMI standard in check-out operations. When contentsare moved back from a secondary recording medium to the primaryrecording medium in a check-in, the number of check-outs carried out sofar for the contents data is decremented by 1. Thus, even after contentshave been copied to three secondary recording media conforming to theSDMI standard, the contents can be copied again to a secondary recordingmedium conforming to the SDMI standard provided that the contents havebeen moved from one of the three secondary recording media in a check-inback to the primary recording medium. That is to say, contents data arepermitted to exist in up to three secondary recording media conformingto the SDMI standard.

[0140] Also in the case of SDMI network contents, a usage rule fortransferring the contents is determined in advance. In a procedure DP7,the transfer of the SDMI network contents according to the usage rule tothe secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B conforming to the SDMIstandard for the purpose of copying the contents to thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B is recognized. As a usagerule of a transfer of SDMI network contents, an upper limit is imposedon the number of allowable check-outs as is the case with SDMI disccontents. The upper limit can be the same as or different from the upperlimit set for SDMI disc contents. For example, an upper limit of 1imposed on the number of allowable check-outs is conceivable. In thiscase, each piece of contents data can be copied only to one secondaryrecording medium conforming to the SDMI standard. If the contents dataare moved back from the secondary recording medium to the primaryrecording medium in a check-in, the contents data can be copied again toa secondary recording medium conforming to the SDMI standard.

[0141] SDMI contents copied in accordance with these usage rules from aprimary recording medium to a secondary recording medium conforming tothe SDMI standard are transferred through a transmission line in anencrypted state. To be more specific, the SDMI contents are transferredthrough a transmission line in an E (CK, A3D) or E (CK′, A3D) state.

[0142] Then, the SDMI contents transferred in an encrypted state isreceived by the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B conformingto the SDMI standard to be copied to the secondary recording medium inthe encrypted state as it is.

[0143] In an operation carried out by thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B conforming to the SDMIstandard to reproduce the SDMI contents copied and recorded to thesecondary recording medium, the contents data are read out from thesecondary recording medium and decrypted to reproduce the contents data.To put it in detail, the contents data recorded in the secondaryrecording medium in the E (CK, A3D) or E (CK′, A3D) state is decryptedby using the contents key CK or CK′ to generate respectively contentsdata D {CK, E (CK, A3D)}=A3D or D {CK′, E (CK′, A3D)}=A3D, which are theoriginal unencrypted contents data compressed by using the ATRAC3compression technique. The original unencrypted compressed contents dataA3D is subjected to processing such as a decompression process oppositeto the ATRAC3 compression process to carry out demodulation processingto produce output audio data such as music.

[0144] As described above, a copyright for contents data conforming tothe SDMI standard can be properly protected by the encrypted state ofthe contents data along the data paths for a check-out of the contentsdata to the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B conforming tothe SDMI standard and the encrypted state of the contents data in thesecondary recording medium as well as properly protected by copymanagement executed by checking the usage rules set for contentstransfers.

[0145] If the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A is connectedto the personal computer 1, on the other hand, the following processingis carried out.

[0146] It is to be noted that, as described above, unlike thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B (such as a memory-carddrive) conforming to the SDMI standard, thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A (such as a mini-discrecorder) records contents data onto a secondary recording medium suchas a mini disc in an unencrypted state. Since contents data are recordedonto a mini disc in an unencrypted state, the contents data copied toand recorded on the mini disc can be reproduced by an ordinarymini-disc-reproduction apparatus, which has been becoming popular ingeneral so that more convenience can be offered to the user.

[0147] Since contents data are recorded onto a mini disc in anunencrypted state, however, a problem is raised in the protection of thecopyright for the contents data. In order to solve this problem, it isnecessary to satisfy predetermined conditions for transferring contentsdata to the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A.

[0148] In order to transfer SDMI network contents to thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A and record the contentsonto a secondary recording medium in an unencrypted state in a copyoperation, it is necessary to satisfy the following three transferconditions for the copy operation:

[0149] (1): The secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A shall passan authentication process, giving an OK authentication result;

[0150] (2): The copyright owner shall recognize the copy operation totransfer the contents data to the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20A and record the data onto the secondary recording medium;and

[0151] (3): The transfer of the contents data shall abide by usage rulesset for check-outs and check-ins.

[0152] Nevertheless, it is not possible to carry out a copy operation totransfer the contents data to an apparatus other than thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B conforming to the SDMIstandard in an unrestricted manner even if above transfer conditions(1), (2) and (3) are satisfied. In this way, the function to protect acopyright is preserved. In addition, the function to protect a copyrightworks due to the fact that contents data are transferred through atransmission line in an encrypted state and it is not until the contentsdata are received by the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20Athat the data are decrypted by the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20A.

[0153] In a procedure DP9, above transfer conditions (1), (2) and (3)are checked before SDMI network contents are transferred to thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A.

[0154] To put it in detail, the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20A is subjected to a predetermined authentication process. Inaddition, flag information or the like included in the contents data isexamined to verify the copyright owner's intention as to whether or notthe copy operation is allowed. Furthermore, the check-out and check-inusage rules are implemented.

[0155] SDMI network contents copied to thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A under the conditionsdescribed above are transmitted through a transmission line in anencrypted state as it is. To be more specific, the SDMI network contentsare transmitted through the transmission line in an E (CK, A3D) or E(CK′, A3D) state.

[0156] The encrypted SDMI network contents are received by thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus (or the mini-disc recorder)20A having a configuration shown in FIG. 4, described later, and thendecrypted by a decryption processing unit 28 to generate the originaldata A3D compressed by using the ATRAC3 compression technique. Then, theencrypted contents data A3D are subjected to an encoding process carriedout by an EFM/ACIRC encoder/decoder 24 included in the configurationshown in FIG. 4 before being supplied to a recording/reproduction unit25 for recording the data onto a mini disc 100.

[0157] Thus, in an operation to reproduce the SDMI contents copied toand recorded on the mini disc 100, the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus (or the mini-disc recorder) 20A needs to carry out the samedecoding processes as an ordinary mini-disc system on data read out fromthe mini disc 100. The decoding processes include an EFM demodulationprocess, an ACIRC error correction process and a decompression processadopting a decompression technique as a counterpart of the ATRACcompression technique.

[0158] It means that the copied contents data recorded on the mini disc100 can be reproduced normally by an ordinary mini-disc reproductionapparatus when the mini disc 100 is mounted on the apparatus. That is tosay, the user can enjoy the SDMI network contents copied to and recordedon the mini disc 100 by reproduction of the contents by means of anordinary mini-disc reproduction apparatus not conforming to the SDMIstandard.

[0159] It is to be noted that, if the transfer of contents is notpermitted in accordance with results of checking usage rules in theprocedures DP7, DP8 and DP9 in the data paths shown in FIG. 2, thecontents are of course not transferred to thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20B.

[0160] 3: Typical Configuration of Data Transfer Apparatus

[0161] (Primary-Recording-Medium-Side Apparatus or PC) FIG. 3 is a blockdiagram showing the configuration of a primary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 1 functioning as a data transfer apparatus. The followingdescription explains a personal computer used as the data transferapparatus 1. By building special-purpose hardware with a configurationfor executing the same functions as the primary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 1, however, it is also possible to create an apparatusspecially used for data transfers.

[0162] In this embodiment, software programs to be executed for carryingout functions of the data transfer apparatus are installed on thepersonal computer 1 to implement a primary-recording-medium-sideapparatus as the data transfer apparatus. The software programs areexecuted by the personal computer to carry out functions of controllingoperations of the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20Bconnected to the personal computer. The controlled operations includecheck-outs and check-ins in conjunction with thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A and 20B as well asprocessing to reproduce contents data from the secondary recordingmedium and recording contents data onto the secondary recording mediumand edit contents data stored on the secondary recording medium. Thesoftware programs form a group of application modules to be describedlater by referring to FIG. 5.

[0163] It is to be noted that, in this specification, a personalcomputer or a computer has a broad meaning of the so-calledgeneral-purpose computer.

[0164] A software program to be described later by referring to FIG. 5can be stored in advance in a recording medium embedded in the computer.Examples of the embedded recording medium are the HDD (hard disc) 5 anda ROM 3.

[0165] As an alternative, a software program can be stored temporarilyor permanently in a removable recording medium 90 such as a floppy disc,a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory), an MO (Magneto Optical) disc,a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a magnetic disc and a semiconductormemory. A program stored in the removable recording medium 90 ispresented to the user as the so-called package software.

[0166] It is to be noted that, in addition to the installation of aprogram from the removable recording medium 90 into the computer, aprogram can also be downloaded into the computer from a download site byway of an artificial satellite for digital satellite broadcasting byradio communication or by way of a network such as a LAN (Local AreaNetwork) or the Internet by wire communication. In the computer, thedownloaded program is received by a communication unit 8 to be installedin the embedded HDD 5.

[0167] The computer 1 shown in FIG. 3 includes an embedded CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) 2. The CPU 2 is connected to an input/output interface10 by a bus 12. The CPU 2 executes a program stored in a ROM (Read-OnlyMemory) 3 in advance in accordance with a command entered to the CPU 2by way of the input/output interface 10 by the user by operating aninput unit 7 comprising a keyboard, a mouse and a microphone. As analternative, the CPU 2 loads a program from the HDD 5 into the RAM(Random-Access Memory) 4 for execution. The program is stored in the HDD5 from the beginning, received by the communication unit 8 from asatellite or a network and installed in the HDD 5 or read out from theremovable recording medium 90 such as an optical disc mounted on a drive9 and installed in the HDD 5. By executing such a program, the CPU 2carries out processing of a data transfer apparatus for SDMI contents.

[0168] If necessary, the CPU 2 outputs a result of the processing to anoutput unit 6 comprising an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a speakeror to the communication unit 8 for transmission by way of theinput/output interface 10, or records the result into the HDD 5.

[0169] In this case, the communication unit 8 is capable ofcommunicating with a variety of servers through the network 110 shown inFIG. 1. To be more specific, the computer 1 is capable of downloadingnetwork contents such as music contents from the external contentsserver 91. The downloaded network contents are subjected to processingfor contents conforming to the SDMI standard or processing notconforming to the SDMI standard along the data paths described above.The downloaded network contents completing the processing for contentsconforming to the SDMI standard are stored as SDMI contents into the HDD5. The SDMI contents stored in the HDD 5 are contents to be transferredto the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B conforming to theSDMI standard or the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A (therecording/reproduction apparatus) 20A passing an authentication test.

[0170] A connection unit 11 is a member connected between thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A and thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B so that data can becommunicated between the computer 1 and thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20B. Conceivable examples ofthe connection unit 11 are a USB interface and an IEEE-1394 interface.It is needless to say that a wire interface conforming to otherstandards and a radio interface using an infrared ray or a radio wavecan be used as the connection unit 11.

[0171] It is to be noted that the various kinds of processing forimplementing the data paths described earlier by referring to FIG. 2 donot have to be sequential processing along the time axis, but theprocessing for implementing the data paths may include pieces ofprocessing to be carried out concurrently or individually. Examples ofthe processing to be carried out concurrently or individually areconcurrent processing and object oriented processing.

[0172] A program can be carried out by a single computer or a pluralityof computers in the so-called distributed processing. In addition, aprogram can be transferred to a remote computer to be executed thereby.

[0173] 4: Typical Configuration of Data-Recording Apparatus(Secondary-Recording-Medium-Side Apparatus or Recording/ReproductionApparatus)

[0174]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration of amini-disc recorder functioning as the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20A. A secondary recording medium 100 is a mini disc or amagneto-optical disc. The secondary recording medium 100 is alsoreferred to hereafter as the mini disc 100.

[0175] It is to be noted that FIG. 4 shows the configuration of thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A including only a systemfor processing data to be recorded onto or reproduced from the mini discused as the secondary recording medium 100 and a system processing datatransferred from the primary-recording-medium-side apparatus 1. Sinceother systems such as the driving system, the servo system and thereproduction output system are similar to their respective counterpartsemployed in the ordinary mini-disc recording/reproduction apparatus,their detailed diagrams are omitted.

[0176] In the mini-disc recorder 20A, an MD control unit (CPU) 21 servesas a controller for controlling operations to record and reproduce dataonto and from the mini disc 100. To put it concretely, the MD controlunit 21 controls a rotation driving mechanism, a spindle servo, a focusservo, a tracking servo, a thread servo, operations to apply a laserbeam and a magnetic field to an optical head and a magnetic headrespectively and processing to encode data to be recorded and decodereproduced data.

[0177] A recording/reproduction unit 25 includes an optical head, amagnetic head, a disc-rotation-driving system and a servo system. Inactuality, the recording/reproduction unit 25 serves as a member forrecording and reproducing data onto and from the mini disc 100.

[0178] An EFM/ACIRC encoder/decoder 24 encodes data to be recorded ontothe mini disc 100 and decodes data reproduced from the mini disc 100. Asis generally known, in the case of a mini-disc system, data to berecorded are subjected to an EFM modulation process and an encodingprocess for ACIRC error correction codes. The EFM/ACIRC encoder/decoder24 carries out an ACIRC encoding process and an EFM encoding process ondata to be recorded before supplying the data to therecording/reproduction unit 25.

[0179] In a reproduction operation, the EFM/ACIRC encoder/decoder 24carries out decoding processes on an RF signal representing data readout from the mini disc 100 and supplied to the EFM/ACIRC encoder/decoder24 by the recording/reproduction unit 25. The decoding processes includebinary conversion processing, EFM demodulation processing and errorcorrection processing adopting the ACIRC technique.

[0180] A buffer memory 30 buffers data to be recorded onto the mini disc100 and data reproduced from the mini disc 100. That is to say, thebuffer memory 30 has a buffering function commonly known as ashock-proof function.

[0181] In an operation to record data, data compressed and encoded byusing the ATRAC/ATRAC3 technique are stored temporarily in the buffermemory 30. The data is then read out in predetermined data unitsintermittently from the buffer memory 30 and supplied to the EFM/ACIRCencoder/decoder 24 to be recorded onto the mini disc 100.

[0182] In an operation to reproduce data, data are read out from themini disc 100 and decoded by the EFM/ACIRC encoder/decoder 24. Thedecoded data are stored temporarily in the buffer memory 30. The storeddata are then read out continuously from the buffer memory 30 andsupplied to a codec 23 for carrying out a decompression/decodingprocess.

[0183] The codec 23 is a member for carrying out compression processingand decompression processing based on an encoding process adopting theATRAC/ATRAC3 technique.

[0184] Data to be recorded onto the mini disc 100 are compressed byusing the ATRAC/ATRAC3 technique before being subjected to the encodingprocess. Thus, when the mini-disc recorder 20A receives data notcompleting compression and encoding processes, the codec 23 carries outthe compression and encoding processes by adopting the ATRAC or ATRAC3technique on the data to be recorded, and supplies the compressed datato the EFM/ACIRC encoder/decoder 24. An example of the data notcompleting compression and encoding processes is PCM audio data.

[0185] Data read out from the mini disc 100 by therecording/reproduction unit 25 and decoded by the EFM/ACIRCencoder/decoder 24 in a reproduction operation are data in a state ofbeing compressed and encoded by adoption of the ATRAC/ATRAC3 technique.The data are supplied to the codec 23 by way of the buffer memory 30.The codec 23 decompresses the data by using a decompression technique asa counterpart of the ATRAC/ATRAC3 technique to generate 16-bit quantizeddigital audio data having a frequency of 44.1 KHz. The digital audiodata is subjected to processing including a D/A conversion process, ananalog signal process and an amplification process in an output circuitnot shown in the figure to generate a speaker output signal representingreproduced music or the like.

[0186] As an alternative, the reproduced signal is output to anotherapparatus as digital audio data.

[0187] The configuration described above includes components of arecording/reproduction apparatus of the ordinary mini-disc system.However, the mini-disc recorder 20A implemented by the embodiment hasadditional members employed in a personal computer to serve as theprimary-recording-medium-side apparatus 1. To be more specific, used forcarrying processing such as processes to receive contents datatransmitted and decode the data, the members include a communicationunit 26, a DMA 27, a decryption processing unit 28, a cache memory 29, aflow control unit 31 and a system control unit 32.

[0188] The system control unit 32 (CPU) is a member for controlling thewhole mini-disc recorder 20A.

[0189] Typically, the system control unit 32 controls processing such asissuance of a request for generation of data and a communication forauthentication between the personal computer 1 and the mini-discrecorder 20A, processing to exchange a variety of commands with thepersonal computer 1 and processing of contents data received from thepersonal computer 1. In addition, in accordance with the various kindsof control, a command is given to the MD control unit 21 and operationsto record and reproduce contents data onto and from the mini disc 100 aswell as operations to read out and update management information arecontrolled.

[0190] Not shown in the figure, an operation unit and a display unit areprovided as a user interface. The system control unit 32 controlsprocessing to monitor operations carried out by the user on theoperation unit, processing carried out in accordance with the operationsand display processing of the display unit.

[0191] Connected to the connection unit 11 of the personal computer 1shown in FIG. 3, the communication unit 26 is a member for exchangingdata with the personal computer 1. The communication unit 26 processessignals conforming to a communication technique as the USB or IEEE-1394technique.

[0192] Data received by the communication unit 26 from the personalcomputer 1 includes a variety of commands and SDMI contents.

[0193] SDMI contents received by the communication unit 26 are stored ina cache memory 29 by control executed by the DMA (Direct Memory Access)27. It is to be noted that such contents can of course be stored in thecache memory 29 under control executed by the CPU in place of the DMA27.

[0194] The decryption processing unit 28 is a member for carrying outcounterpart processing of the process to encrypt SDMI contents. That isto say, the decryption processing unit 28 decrypts contents data storedin the cache memory 29. The unencrypted contents data are then stored inanother area of the cache memory 29.

[0195] Since the SDMI contents have been encrypted by using a contentskey CK or CK′, information usable for recognizing at least the contentskey CK or CK′ is stored.

[0196] Since information usable for recognizing the contents key CK hasbeen stored, the decryption processing unit 28 is capable of decryptingan encrypted SDMI contents received in an encrypted state. The encryptedSDMI contents are E (CK, A3D), which are the contents A3D encrypted byusing the contents key CK. The result of the decryption is D {CK, E (CK,A3D)}=A3D, which are data compressed by using the ATRAC3 technique. Thedata compressed by using the ATRAC3 technique are encoded by theEFM/ACIRC encoder/decoder 24 before being stored by therecording/reproduction unit 25 onto the mini disc 100.

[0197] It is to be noted that the SDMI contents are not always datacompressed by using the ATRAC3 technique. For example, linear PCM dataencrypted by a key CK are conceivable. Thus, there is also a method ofinputting transferred contents in the E (CK, PCM) state. In this case,as a matter of course, the decryption processing unit decrypts theencrypted contents in the E (CK, PCM) state to generate D {CK, E (CK,PCM)}=PCM, which are decrypted linear PCM data. In this case, the PCMdata are compressed by the codec 23 by using the ATRAC3 technique beforebeing encoded by the EFM/ACIRC encoder/decoder 24 and recorded onto themini disc 100 by the recording/reproduction unit 25.

[0198] A key may be stored in the decryption processing unit 28 in somecases to be used in an authentication process. A public key and aprivate key may be both stored. The private key is also used in anencryption process.

[0199] In addition, the decryption processing unit 28 includes anembedded hash engine for carrying out the so-called hash-functionprocessing in order to generate a contents ID.

[0200] A contents ID is identification information for processes carriedout by the personal computer 1 to check out and check in the contentsdata.

[0201] The decrypted SDMI contents data are transferred from the cachememory 29 to the flow control unit 31. Examples of the decrypted SDMIcontents data are data compressed by the ATRAC3 technique and PCM data.

[0202] The flow control unit 31 is a member for transferring thedecrypted SDMI contents data to the MD control unit 21 serving as arecording process system for recording the data onto the mini disc 100.The recording process system includes the codec 23, the EFM/ACIRCencoder/decoder 24, the recording/reproduction unit 25 and the buffermemory 30.

[0203] The flow control unit 31 transfers the decrypted SDMI contentsdata upon a request (XARQ) made by the MD control unit 21. The flowcontrol unit 31 adjusts timings of reception of contents data,decryption processing and processing to record data onto the mini disc100.

[0204] A bus line 22 is a communication line allowing various kinds ofdata to be exchanged among the MD control unit (CPU) 21, the codec 23,the buffer memory 30, the EFM/ACIRC encoder/decoder 24, the flow controlunit 31, the DMA 27, the cache memory 29, the communication unit 26, thedecryption processing unit 28 and the system control unit 32.

[0205] In the above configuration, as SDMI contents data transmitted bythe personal computer 1, data in the E (CK, A3D) state or data in the E(CK, PCM) state are decrypted and encoded by the EFM/ACIRCencoder/decoder 24 by using the ATRAC3 technique before being recordedby the recording/reproduction unit 25 onto the mini disc 100.

[0206] By the way, in a check-in and a check-out of contents databetween the personal computer 1 and the mini-disc recorder 20A and inother communication sessions, a variety of commands are alsotransmitted.

[0207] These commands are received by the communication unit 26 andpassed on to the system control unit 32. The system control unit 32carries out various kinds of processing in accordance with thesecommands, and transmits a response to each of the commands to thepersonal computer 1 by way of the communication unit 26.

[0208] 5: Structure of Application Modules

[0209] By referring to FIG. 5, the following description explains agroup of application modules to be executed by the personal computer 1to control operations of the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus20A or 20B connected to the personal computer 1. The controlledoperations include check-outs and check-ins in conjunction with thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20B as well asprocessing to reproduce contents data from the secondary recordingmedium and recording contents data onto the secondary recording mediumand edit contents data stored on the secondary recording medium.

[0210] The group of application modules comprises programs stored inadvance in the ROM 3 shown in FIG. 3 and/or programs installed inadvance in the HDD 5 shown in FIG. 3. The programs are executed by theCPU 2 employed in the personal computer 1 to execute the control of thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A and 20B by executing apredetermined process in accordance with the group of applicationmodules.

[0211] It is to be noted that a process to edit contents data stored onthe mini disc 100 used as the secondary recording medium includesoperations to split contents data, join contents data to each other andmove contents data.

[0212] As shown in FIG. 5, the group of application modules provided bythe embodiment comprises a common application module 70, commandtransformation modules 71 and 73, device drivers 72 and 74, switchingfunctions 75 and 76 and local application modules 77 and 78.

[0213] The switching functions 75 and 76 are typically module selectfunctions in a program.

[0214] The common application module 70 is an application moduleintended mainly for controlling a check-out and a check-in of contentsdata. To put it in detail, with a secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20A or 20B connected to the personal computer 1 to be used asan apparatus for recording contents data onto a mini disc or a memorycard serving as a secondary recording medium in this data transfersystem, the common application module 70 is executed for controlling acheck-out and a check-in of contents data as well as a variety ofprocesses accompanying the check-out and the check-in.

[0215] The common application module 70 issues a command (or a controlcode) specifying a common control condition without regard to the typeof the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus connected to thepersonal computer 1. To be more specific, the common application module70 issues a variety of commands in accordance with various kinds ofcontrol conditions but the commands do not differ with regard to thetypes of the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus.

[0216] On the other hand, the format of a command issued to asecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus (or a memory-card drive) 20Bfor driving a memory card used as a secondary recording medium isdifferent from a command issued to a secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus (a mini-disc recorder) 20A for driving a mini disc used as asecondary recording medium. By the format, the code form or the commandframe structure is implied. For this reason, the command transformationmodules 71 and 73 are each provided to serve as a plug-in module.

[0217] The command transformation module 71 is a module for transforminga common command issued by the common application module 70 into acontrol code and a command frame structure for the memory-card drive 20Band issuing the control code and the command frame structure to thememory-card drive 20B. With the memory-card drive 20B connected to thepersonal computer 1, the command transformation module 71 transforms acommon command issued by the common application module 70 into a commandhaving a format that can be interpreted by the memory-card drive 20B.The command transformation module 71 then supplies the transformedcommand to the memory-card drive 20B by way of the device driver 72provided for the memory-card drive 20B.

[0218] The common application module 70, the command transformationmodule 71 and the device driver 72 control check-outs and check-inscarried out in conjunction with the memory-card drive 20B connected tothe personal computer 1.

[0219] On the other hand, the command transformation module 73 is amodule for transforming a common command issued by the commonapplication module 70 into a control code and a command frame structurefor the mini-disc recorder 20A and issuing the control code and thecommand frame structure to the mini-disc recorder 20A.

[0220] With the mini-disc recorder 20A connected to the personalcomputer 1, the command transformation module 73 transforms a commoncommand issued by the common application module 70 into a command havinga format that can be interpreted by the mini-disc recorder 20A. Thecommand transformation module 73 then supplies the transformed commandto the mini-disc recorder 20A by way of the device driver 74 providedfor the mini-disc recorder 20A.

[0221] The common application module 70, the command transformationmodule 73 and the device driver 74 control check-outs and check-inscarried out in conjunction with the mini-disc recorder 20A connected tothe personal computer 1. It is to be noted that, when the commonapplication module 70 issues a common command, the switching function 75is positioned on a t1 side allowing the command transformation module 73to output the transformed command to the mini-disc recorder 20A by wayof the device driver 74.

[0222] As a transformed command issued to the mini-disc recorder 20A, acontrol code is issued by the command transformation module 73 in acommand frame like one shown in FIG. 6.

[0223] In an operation code at an offset address of 02h, avendor-dependent code determined by a format license issuer of theapparatus connected to the personal computer 1, that is, the mini-discrecorder 20A in this case is declared.

[0224] At the offset address of 0Ah, an actual operation code (or acontrol code) is described. The actual operation code is the value ofthe vendor-dependent code VDC. Locations at an offset address of 0Bh andsubsequent offset addresses are used as fields each describing anargument of the control code.

[0225] At offset addresses of 03h to 05h, a company unique code isprescribed in accordance with typically IEEE specifications as a companyID. The company ID is the code of the format license issuer of theapparatus connected to the personal computer 1, that is, the mini-discrecorder 20A in this case.

[0226] Offset addresses of 06h to 09h are each a data field that can befilled up by the format license issuer.

[0227] That is to say, a common command is transformed into a commandwith a control-code format prescribed by the format license issuerformat license issuer of the mini-disc recorder 20A. The transformedcommand is then supplied to the mini-disc recorder 20A.

[0228] As described above, the module structure comprises the commonapplication module 70 for issuing a common command and the commandtransformation modules 71 and 73 each provided as a plug-in module for acorresponding secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus connected to thepersonal computer 1. The command transformation modules 71 and 73 eachtransform the common command into a transformed command for thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus associated with the commandtransformation module 71 or 73. Thus, it is necessary to provide thepersonal computer 1 with the common application module 70 as a basicapplication for controlling check-outs and check-ins as well as thecommand transformation modules 71 and/or 73 to be each used as a plug-inmodule for the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus assumed to beconnected to the personal computer 1. In this way, it is possible toimplement an extremely efficient and flexible software structure.

[0229] At any rate, the common application module 70 issues a commoncommand including a control code indicating control to be executed ascontrol common to a variety of the secondary recording media.

[0230] However, one may assume that a control code is to be issued for acase in which a special secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus isconnected to the personal computer 1. This is because the secondaryrecording media have characteristics different from each other and,since the special secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus has afunction for handling a secondary recording medium having a specificcharacteristic, the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus isrequired for the secondary recording medium. In this case, it isdesirable to issue a local command, that is, a control code with acontrol condition that cannot be issued by the common application module70. For this reason, it is necessary to provide the personal computer 1with a local application module suited for the secondary recordingmedium having a specific characteristic.

[0231] In this embodiment, if the mini-disc recorder 20A is connected tothe personal computer 1, a control command specifying a control code isissued by the local application module 77 or 78. This control command isdependent on the secondary recording medium. An example of this controlcommand is a command to edit contents data on the secondary recordingmedium, which is the mini disc 100 in this case.

[0232] The local application module 77 is a module for transforming alocal command such as a command to edit contents data on the secondaryrecording medium into a transformed command with a format adjusted tothat tailored to the mini-disc recorder 20A as shown in FIG. 6 and thenissuing the transformed command to the mini-disc recorder 20A.

[0233] That is to say, in this case, the local application module 77issues a control code included in a command frame like one shown in FIG.7.

[0234] The transformed command frame shown in FIG. 7 is obtained byextending the transformed command frame shown in FIG. 6. For example, inan operation code at an offset address of 02h, a vendor-dependent codedetermined by a format license issuer of the apparatus connected to thepersonal computer 1, that is, the mini-disc recorder 20A in this case,as well as a vendor-dependent code determined by an apparatusmanufacturer, that is, the manufacturer of the mini-disc recorder 20A inthis case, is declared.

[0235] Locations at an offset address of 06h and subsequent offsetaddresses are used as fields each available for describing the localcommand's information such as the actual control code (and arguments)with a high degree of freedom.

[0236] At offset addresses of 03h to 05h, a company unique code isprescribed in accordance with typically IEEE specifications as a companyID. The company ID is the code of the manufacturer of the mini-discrecorder 20A connected to the personal computer 1. The manufacturer isdefined as the format licenser or a licensee.

[0237] When the local application module 77 issues such a transformedcommand, the switching function 76 is positioned on a t3 side and theswitching function 75 is positioned on a t2 side allowing the devicedriver 74 to pass on the transformed command to the mini-disc recorder20A by way of the device driver 74. The local application module 77, theswitching functions 76 and 75, and the device driver 74 thus controlfunctions unique to the mini-disc recorder 20A.

[0238] Since a transformed command issued by the command transformationmodule 73 has the same command frame structure as a transformed commandissued by the local application module 77, a firmware application of themini-disc recorder 20A is capable of accepting the transformed commandsby using a common interpretation module.

[0239] By providing the common application module 70 and the localapplication module 77 as described above, with the mini-disc recorder20A connected to the personal computer 1, it is possible to control notonly check-outs and check-ins, but also processing peculiar to themini-disc recorder 20A such as a process to edit contents recorded onthe mini-disc recorder 20A. However, there is also a case in which thelocal application module 78 is used for issuing a local command as it isinstead of issuing a transformed command frame as is the case with thelocal application module 77 in advance.

[0240] Thus, this embodiment also includes the local application module78 having a module structure for issuing a local command as it iswithout transforming the command as described above.

[0241] As explained earlier, the personal computer 1 is connected to themini-disc recorder 20A by using a transmission line such as the USB.With a transmission line such as the USB, bmRequestType and bRequestfields are provided as shown in a send control command of FIG. 8A and areceive response command of FIG. 8B.

[0242] These fields are used for indicating whether the commandincluding these fields is a control command issued from an applicationin the personal computer 1 to the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20A or 20B or a response command received by an application inthe personal computer 1 from the secondary-recording-medium-sideapparatus 20A or 20B.

[0243] To put it concretely, if the MSB of the bmRequestType field is 0as shown in FIG. 8A, the command including this field is sent from thepersonal computer 1 to the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20Aor 20B in the so-called send direction. If the MSB of the bmRequestTypefield is 1 as shown in FIG. 8B, on the other hand, the command includingthis field is sent to the personal computer 1 from thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20B in the so-calledreceive direction.

[0244] In addition, if the bRequest field is 80h as shown in FIG. 8A,the command including this field is a control command. If the bRequestfield is 81h as shown in FIG. 8B, on the other hand, the commandincluding this field is a response command.

[0245] Thus, the command structure shown in FIG. 8A is the structure ofa control command sent from the personal computer 1 to thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20B. On the other hand,the command structure shown in FIG. 8B is the structure of a responsecommand sent to the personal computer 1 by thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20B.

[0246] The control command shown in FIG. 8A is a common command sentfrom an application in the personal computer 1 to thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20B for the purpose ofmainly carrying out a check-out or a check-in. On the other hand, theresponse command shown in FIG. 8B is a command issued by thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus 20A or 20B to the applicationin the personal computer 1 in response to the common command.

[0247] The structures of a local control command issued by the localapplication module 78 and a local response command to the local controlcommand are obtained by extending the command structures shown in FIGS.8A and 8B respectively.

[0248] The structures of the local control command issued by the localapplication module 78 and the local response command to the localcontrol command are shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B respectively.

[0249] As shown in these figures, a bRequest field of FFh indicates thatthe command including this field is a local control command issued bythe local application module 78 or a local response command issued inresponse to the local control command. The manufacturer of the mini-discrecorder 20A freely determines whether or not the local applicationmodule 78 is to be used.

[0250] It is to be noted that the MSB of the bmRequestType field revealsthe command direction as described above. Thus, in this embodiment, thecommand structure shown in FIG. 9A is the structure of a local controlcommand sent from the local application module 78 to the mini-discrecorder 20A. On the other hand, the command structure shown in FIG. 9Bis the structure of a local response command sent to the localapplication module 78 by the mini-disc recorder 20A.

[0251] In addition, in the case of the local control and responsecommands shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B respectively, control and responsedata, which can be set by the apparatus manufacturer with a high degreeof freedom, are each described in a field for vendor-dependent data.

[0252] In this case, when the local application module 78 issues such alocal control command shown in FIG. 9A, the switching function 76 ispositioned on a t4 side and the switching function 75 is positioned on at2 side allowing the device driver 74 to pass on the local command tothe mini-disc recorder 20A by way of the device driver 74.

[0253] By the same token, in order for the personal computer 1 toreceive a local response command shown in FIG. 9B, the switchingfunction 76 is positioned on a t4 side and the switching function 75 ispositioned on a t2 side allowing the local command issued by themini-disc recorder 20A to be supplied to the personal computer 1 by wayof the device driver 74.

[0254] As described above, in accordance with the module structure shownin FIG. 5, control that is unique to an apparatus connected to thepersonal computer 1 and cannot be handled by the common applicationmodule 70 is executed by using the local application module 77 or 78.Since the device driver 74 can be shared by the common applicationmodule 70, the local application module 77 and the local applicationmodule 78, it is not necessary to introduce a new device driver for thelocal application module 77 and 78.

[0255] In addition, by using a module issuing a transformed command asis the case with the local application module 77, a process carried outby execution of firmware in the mini-disc recorder 20A can besimplified.

[0256] On the other hand, by issuing a local command like a commandissued by the local application module 78, it is no longer necessary toissue an apparatus-dependent command with a format to be adjusted tothat of a transformed command in advance.

[0257] A preferred embodiment has been described so far. However, thescope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[0258] In this embodiment, the local application modules 77 and 78 areeach a module specially provided for the mini-disc recorder 20A. It isneedless to say, however, that a local application module can be amodule specially provided for the memory-card driver 20B in theconfiguration as shown in FIG. 5.

[0259] The secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus is of course notlimited to the mini-disc recorder and the memory-card driver. That is tosay, the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus can be assumed to bean apparatus of another type. Examples of the secondary recording medium100 of another type are a disc medium such as a CD-R, a CD-RW, aDVD-RAM, a DVD-R and a DVD-RW, a medium using a solid-state memory or atape medium. Thus, the secondary-recording-medium-side apparatus can beassumed to be any one of various recording apparatus provided for anyone of these various recording media. In this case, it is necessary touse a module suitable for an apparatus to which thesecondary-recording-medium-side apparatus is to be connected.

[0260] As is obvious from the above description, in accordance with thepresent invention, a control code issued by a common application modulefor the purpose of mainly carrying out a check-out or a check-in istransformed by the transformation module in accordance with a connectedapparatus. Then, the transformed control command is transmitted by wayof a device driver. It is thus unnecessary to use an application moduleunique to the type of the connected apparatus.

[0261] As for a control code issued by a local application module forthe purpose of mainly carrying out a process unique to a connectedapparatus, the device driver cited above can be shared by the localapplication module. Thus, it is not necessary to carry out a process toswitch the application from one to another every time processing isstarted.

[0262] In particular, the local application module issues a control codewith a format adjusted to that of a transformed control code obtained asa result of the transformation module. Thus, the device driver can beshared by the common application module and the local application modulewith ease.

[0263] Even if the local application module presents that a localcontrol code with a format different from that of a control codetransformed by the transformation module is to be issued and issues thelocal control code, the device driver can still be shared. In this case,it is possible to implement a control technique for issuing localcontrol codes with a high degree of freedom in accordance with the typeof the connected apparatus.

[0264] The features described above allow the structure of modules usedby the data transfer apparatus for controlling a data-recordingapparatus connected to the data transfer apparatus to be simplified, andprocessing carried out by the data transfer apparatus to be made moreefficient.

[0265] In addition, in accordance with the recording medium provided bythe present invention, by using typically a personal computer, it ispossible to easily implement a data transfer apparatus for executing anapparatus control method to give the effects described above.

1. An apparatus control method adopted by a data transfer apparatus tocontrol a data-recording apparatus connected to said data transferapparatus, wherein: said data transfer apparatus includes a primaryrecording medium in which contents data have been stored; saiddata-recording apparatus is capable of recording contents data onto asecondary recording medium; and the contents data stored on said primaryrecording medium can be transferred to said secondary recording mediumby connecting said data-recording apparatus to said data transferapparatus, wherein a first control procedure or a second controlprocedure is selectively executed in accordance with a controlcondition, said first control procedure including the steps of: using acommon application module to issue a control code according to a commoncontrol condition independently of a type of said secondary recordingmedium; using a transformation module to transform said control code inaccordance with said data-recording apparatus connected to said datatransfer apparatus; and transmitting the transformed control code tosaid data-recording apparatus connected to said data transfer apparatusby way of a device driver; said second control procedure including thesteps of: using a local application module to issue a control code inaccordance with a control condition not prepared in said commonapplication module; and transmitting the issued control code to saiddata-recording apparatus connected to said data transfer apparatus byway of said device driver.
 2. An apparatus control method according toclaim 1, wherein, in said second control procedure, said localapplication module issues the control code having a format adjusted tothat of the control code transformed by said transformation module. 3.An apparatus control method according to claim 1, wherein, in saidsecond control procedure, said local application module presents that alocal control code having a format different from that of the controlcode transformed by said transformation module is to be issued andissues the local control code.
 4. A data transfer apparatus comprising:primary-recording-medium-driving means for recording data onto a primaryrecording medium and reproducing data from said primary recordingmedium; communication means for carrying out operations to exchangevarious kinds of data with an external data-recording apparatus forrecording data onto a secondary recording medium and specially carryingout an operation to transfer contents data recorded on said primaryrecording medium; and connected-apparatus control means for transmittinga control code to a variety of data-recording apparatus connectable tosaid data transfer apparatus in a state of being capable ofcommunicating with said data transfer apparatus through saidcommunication means, and for controlling the data-recording apparatusconnected to said data transfer apparatus, wherein saidconnected-apparatus control means includes: a common application modulefor issuing a control code according to a common control conditionindependently of a type of said secondary recording medium; atransformation module for transforming said control code issued by saidcommon application module in accordance with the data-recordingapparatus connected to said data transfer apparatus; a local applicationmodule for issuing a control code in accordance with a control conditionnot prepared in said common application module; and a device driver fortransmitting the transformed control code transformed by saidtransformation module and the issued control code issued by said localapplication module to the data-recording apparatus connected to saiddata transfer apparatus.
 5. A data transfer apparatus according to claim4, wherein said local application module issues the control code havinga format adjusted to that of the control code transformed by saidtransformation module.
 6. A data transfer apparatus according to claim4, wherein said local application module presents that a local controlcode having a format different from that of the control code transformedby said transformation module is to be issued and issues the localcontrol code.
 7. A recording medium for a recording program module to beexecuted by a data transfer apparatus including a primary recordingmedium in which contents data have been stored, in order to control adata-recording apparatus which is connected to said data transferapparatus and which is used for recording contents data onto a secondaryrecording medium in a state allowing contents data recorded on saidprimary recording medium to be transferred to said secondary recordingmedium by connecting said data-recording apparatus to said data transferapparatus, said program module comprising: a common application modulefor issuing a control code according to a common control conditionindependently of a type of said secondary recording medium; atransformation module for transforming said control code issued by saidcommon application module in accordance with the data-recordingapparatus connected to said data transfer apparatus; a local applicationmodule for issuing a control code in accordance with a control conditionnot prepared in said common application module; and a device driver fortransmitting the transformed control code transformed by saidtransformation module and the issued control code issued by said localapplication module to the data-recording apparatus connected to saiddata transfer apparatus.
 8. A recording medium according to claim 7,wherein said local application module issues the control code having aformat adjusted to that of the control code transformed by saidtransformation module.
 9. A recording medium according to claim 7,wherein said local application module presents that a local control codehaving a format different from that of the control code transformed bysaid transformation module is to be issued and issues the local controlcode.